Apparatus for dredging divided solids submerged in liquid

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS IS PRESENTED FOR REMOVING FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS COLLECTED IN A SUMP OR PIT IN ASSOCIATION WITH WATER. A MAIN FRAME SUPPORTS THE APPARATUS ABOVE THE PIT, A FIRST GUIDE MEANS IS SUPPORTED IN THE FRAME FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION, A SECOND GUIDE MEANS IS SUPPORTED WITHIN THE FIRST GUIDE MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREIN ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A BOOM EXTENDS OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF THE SECOND GUIDE MEANS, TILTABLE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL PIVOT AXIS, AND A DREDGING HEAD AT THE OUTER END OF THE BOOM IS ADAPTED TO REACH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PIT BY MANIPULATION OF THE APPARATUS. A PUMP IS MOUNTED INSIDE OF THE SECOND GUIDE MEANS WITH AN INTAKE LINE COMMUNICATING TO THE DREDGE HEAD SO THAT THE LOOSENED SOLID MATERIAL IN SOMEWHAT OF A SLURRY IS ENABLED TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE PIT.   D R A W I N G

United States Patent 1 Duval [76] Inventor: Leonard A. Duval, 207 Harmon Rd.,

Aurora, Ohio I 221 Filed: Sept. 23, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 183,034

[51] Int. Cl E03b 11/00 [58] Field of Search 210/153, 171, 173,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,218,739 11/1965 Kaufmann et al. 37/67 X 3,495,409 2/1970 Riedemann 37/64 UX 3,171,219 3/1965 Kaufmann et al. 37/67 X 3,412,862 11/1968 Chaplin 210/241 X 3,627,668 12/1971 Wethly 210/527 3,635,349 1/1972 Weiss 210/527 2,734,634 2/1956 Knowles 210/527 X "[111 13,800,949 Apr. 2,1974

Primary ExaminerMichael Rogers Assistant Examiner-F, F. Calvetti Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [57] 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus is presented for removing finely divided solids collected in a sump or pit in association with water. A main frame supports the apparatus above the pit, a first guide means is supported in the frame for vertical reciprocation, a second guide means is supported within the first guide means for rotation therein about a vertical axis, a boom extends outwardly and downwardly from the lower end of the second guide means, tiltable about a horizontal pivot axis, and a dredging head at the outer end of the boom is adapted to reach various parts of the pit by manipulation of the apparatus. A pump is mounted inside of the second guide means with an intake line communicating to the dredge head so that the loosened solid material in somewhat of a slurry is enabled to be pumped out of the pit.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEBAPR 2 1914 3,800,949

I"! in INVENTOR.

LEONARD A. 'DUVAL BY PAIENIEUAPR 2am 3.800.949

' smrznra INVEN LEONARD A.- DU BY PATENIEDAPR 21914 I (800,949

llll lllll L. I F1... II If 40 I 53 1] I I I ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 2 m4 SHEET R [If 4 INVENTOR.

LEONARD A. DUVAL BY FIG? . ATTZfM-I E 494%? APPARATUS FOR DREDGING DIVIDED SOLIDS SUBMERGED IN LIQUID An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus adapted to reach all parts of a pit where finely divided material settles out of a body of water, the apparatus being sufficiently flexible to reach the bottom of the pit beneath the apparatus and outwardly toward the side wall of the pit and a dredging head loosens the material in the sump so that, mixed with water, the same can be sucked up by a pump and delivered wherever desired. An outstanding feature of the present invention is that it causes a minimum disturbance of the solids in the bottom of the pit because as soon as they are loosened by the dredging head, they enter the pump line and are carried away.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line 11 of FIG. 2 showing a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is in general a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; i FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatus taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a central sectional view of a second embodiment taken along the line 44 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the same taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental plan view, enlarged, of the structure shown at 6 in FIG. 5; while FIG. 7 is a fragmental sectional view, enlarged, of the structure indicated at 7 in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings show a first embodiment of this invention. A pit or sump or reservoir 10 generally rectangular in plan has parallel side walls 10a on which the apparatus of this invention is arranged for travel. The main frame 11 has two parallel girders 11a on opposite ends of which are mounted rotatable flange wheels 12 in position to travel along a rail 13 on each side wall. Each rail rests upon an I-beam 14 running the full length of each wall 10a and rest on a plurality of shelves 15 which are carried by vertical metal plates 16 secured to the side walls 10a. Means is provided to drive the frame 11 longitudinally of the reservoir 10 and this comprises at least one motor 17 mounted on one of the girders lla and having a drive shaft 17a connected to one of the wheels 12 to rotate the same. The members 11b, 11c, 11d, lle and llfare all parts of the main frame and are rigidly connected together.

A first guide means here comprises a rectangular box-like structure 18 which is here shown as approximately square in section as seen in FIG. 2. This first guide means is mounted in the main frame 1 l for reciprocation in a vertical direction. This may comprise continuous vertical ribs 19 which are rigid with the box 18 and are slidably received between parallel angles 20 rigidly secured to beams 11b and 110. Another manner of supporting the box 18 for vertical reciprocation in the frame 11 is shown in FIG. 6 where a vertical channel 18a is secured in the box 18 rigidly and carries projecting cars 19:: connected by a bar 19b to provide a rigid structure which is slidably received in the angles 20 on each side thereof. Four of the vertical guide ways just described at 19 and 20 are shown in the drawings, one in the middle portion of each side of the box 18.

A second guide means 21 is mounted on-thc first guide means 18 for vertical reciprocation therewith but with the guide means 2] rotatable relative to the guide means 18 about a vertical axis. To this end, the second guide means is a vertically extending tube 21 which carries at spaced points vertically thereon, radially outwardly extending shafts 22 rigid with the tube 21 and carrying at their outer ends freely rotatable rollers 23. These rollers are in a position to roll upon an annular track 24 which is rigidly secured to the inner faces of the box 18. This structure is clearly seen in FIG. 7.

Power means is provided for causing vertical reciprocation of the box 18 in the frame 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this comprises a rack 25 which is secured to one of the ribs 19, or otherwise carried by the structure shown at 19a, 19b. Carried by one of the beams 11b is an electrical motor 26 which has a drive shaft 26a connected with a pinion 27 which is in mesh with the rack 25. It is obvious that rotation of the pinion 27 by the motor 26'will cause vertical reciprocation of the box 18 relative to the frame 11.

Power means is provided for rotating the tubular member 21 relative to the box 18. This comprises a ring gear 28 fixedly secured'to the upper end of the tubular member 21 and driven by an electrical motor 29 which is mounted by means of a bracket 30 n'gid with the box 18 and having a driven shaft 29a which drives pinion 31 which is in mesh with the ring gear 28. This will cause the tubular member 2] to rotate about its own vertical axis as the rollers 33 travel around arcuate track 24. At the same time, the structure at 22, 23, 24 causes the tubular member 21 to be raised and lowered with vertical reciprocation of the box 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a boom 33 is carried at the lower end of the tubular member 21 for tilting movement about a horizontal axis as represented by two pivot pins 34 carried by member 21. This is a rigid boom of conventional structure which is represented in the drawings by two side frame members 33a connected by suitable cross members, some of which are shown at 33b and 33c. The side members 33a of the boom oscillate about the pins 34 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Power means is provided to control the position of the boom 33 about its pivot 34. As shown in the drawings, this comprises an hydraulic jack 35 having fluid connections 35a and 35b by means of which pressure fluid is supplied to the jack by controls not shown to cause raising and lowering of the boom 33 as desired by the operator. The upper end of the jack is pivotally connected at 36 with tubular member 21 and is pivotally connected at its lower end at 37 to the cross member 35b of the boom structure.

Means is provided for rotating a dredging head 37 which is rotatably mounted at the outer end of the boom 33. This head has a base 37a from which a plurality of cutting blades 37b extend forwardly in a converging manner, these blades being preferentially inclined at an angle to the axis of rotation of the head 37 in such a manner that when the head is rotated in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 1, the material encountered by the blades 35 will travel toward the base 37a where is it readily picked up by the pump connection later to be described. Means for rotating the head 37 preferably comprises a motor 38 fixed on the boom 33 as by attachment to strut 33c, and having a driven shaft 380 drivingly connected to the base 37a to cause rotation of the cutting blades 37b when motor 38 is energized by means not shown.

Pump means is provided to carry away the material loosened by rotation of the head 37 and entrained in water or other liquid in the sump or reservoir 10. Pref erably, the pump is located in the interior of the tubular member 21 shown in FIG. 1. A shelf 39 is rigidly connected to the member 21 and supports an electrical motor 40 which is provided with a source of electricity and for proper controls which are not shown. The driven shaft 41 extends downwardly from the motor 40 and is connected to a pump in a housing 42 near the lower end of member 21. This pump housing is here shown as supported by a plurality of rigid, vertical members 43 and the discharge from the pump housing 42 is carried upwardly through a vertical pipe 44 which at its upper end is connected with a hose 45 to lead the pumped material to any desired place. The pump 42 is of an ordinary centrifugal type having a central inlet which is connected by a combination of hose and pipe indicated at 46 carried on the boom down to a point close to the base 37a of the dredging head 37, Thus, by rotation of the motor 30, the pump in the housing 42 is caused to operate so as to carry away the finely divided material loosened by the rotating head 37, mixed with water, through pipe42 and hose 45 to any location selected.

'The second embodiment is quite similar to that first described and parts having the same function will be given the same reference character with a prime suffix. Here the sump or reservoiris generally circular in character having frustoconical walls 10a near the bottom sloping to a central floor 10b. 7

Here the parts of the main frame, all rigidly fixed, are indicated generally at 11 except for certain frame members performing a special function.

The first guide means is an open ended box 18' generally square in section and open at both ends as shown. This box is supported in the frame 11' for verti calreciprocation by means of a plurality of vertically extending ribs 19 which ride in vertical guide ways 20' as described in connection with the first embodiment. These vertical guide ways are rigidly carried by frame beams 11b and l1c.- Here the power means for causing vertical reciprocation of the box 18' comprises cable connections 49 and 50 at the top of the box, the cable being wound over the drum 51 of a winch rotatably mounted on a overhead frame 52 and rotated by means of an electrical motor 53.

The second guide means in this embodiment is a tubular member 21 similar to that described in the first embodiment. This member 21 is mounted for recipro cation with the box member 18 and for rotation relative to the box member 18 by exactly the same structure as described at 22, 23 and 24 in the first embodiment and here given the same reference characters with a prime suffix. Here the means for causing rotation of the member 21 is like that shown in the first embodiment including the ring gear 28 mounted on the upper end of the tubular member 21 and driven by a meshing pinion 31 driven by a motor 29' which is connected by bracket 30 to the box member 18'.

The boom 33' is mounted for tilting or oscillation by means of two pivot pins 34 secured at the lower end of the member 21'. Means like that shown at 35 is provided for oscillating the boom 33 about its pivot 34' but is not shown here in the drawings because it would confuse the understanding of the invention.

The dredging head 37 is like that described at 37 driven by the motor 38 as in the first embodiment. In this form of the invention, as the members 18 and 21 are raised from the position shown ih FIG. 4, the boom 33 is manipulated to cause the dredging head 37' to follow up the sloping frusto-conical walls 10a, or to travel along the bottom floor 10h as shown at the dotdash lines of boom 33 in the central position of the boom. I

It is believed that the operation of this invention will now be understood with little further explanation. The first and second guide means are moved in a vertical direction as desired either by use of the motor 26 in the first embodiment or the use of the motor 53 in the sec ond embodiment. in either case, the second guide means, the tubular member 21 or 21 is rotated by use of the motor 29 or 29' as previously described. At the same time the motor 35, or similar hydraulic jack in FIG. 4, is actuated so that the boom 33 or 33' may cause the dredging head 37 or 37' to follow out the lines of the pit or reservoir 10 or 10' so as to agitate the solid matter in the pit for suction by means of pump 40 and 40 in a manner already described. It should be understood that the pump 42' driven by the motor 40' for discharge through pipe 44' is exactly like that in the first embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dredging divided solids submerged in liquid in areservoir, comprising a frame adapted to be placed over the reservoir, a first guide means mounted for vertical reciprocation in said frame, power means for reciprocating said first guide means, a second generally tubular guide means mounted inside said first guide means with its axis vertical and connected for reciprocation therewith and for rotation about said vertical axis, power means for rotating said second guide means relative to said first guide means, a boom v having an inner end pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivotal axis on said second guide means near the lower end of the latter, means for oscillating said boom about said pivotal axis, an agitator head mounted at the outer end of said boom, means for causing agitation of said solids by said head, pump means mounted on said second guide means, and a pipe connection communicating from a point adjacent said head to said pump.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said power means for reciprocating said first guide means includes a winch mounted on said frame above said first guide means, and a lifting cable connected between said winch and said first guide means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting for said first guide means comprises vertically extending ways fixed to said frame in which ride vertical ribs on said first guide means, and said power means for reciprocating said first guide means includes a rack rigid with one of said ribs and a motor mounted on said frame drives a pinion in mesh with said rack.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting for said second guide means comprises at least one annular track extending radially inwardly from said first guide means, a plurality of shafts extending radially outwardly from said second guide means, and a roller freely rotatable on each of said shafts and positioned to ride on said track.

tator head comprises a dredging head having a base and separate cutting edges extending away from said base along converging lines, means for rotating said head about an axis at right angles to said base, and said cutting edges extending at an angle to said axis and so ar' ranged that upon rotation of said head material loosened thereby travels along said edges toward said base.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for causing agitation comprises a motor mounted on said boom and having a drive shaft connected with said head. 

